The historical evolution and research trends of life cycle assessment

Abstract

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a widely used tool for environmental decision-making; however, it still has theoretical and practical limitations. Through a comprehensive review of traditional LCA development and case studies, this study examines the overall trajectory of the evolution of the LCA methodological framework. It specifically addresses perspectives on typical LCA methods, dynamic LCA methods, expanding LCA into multidimensional assessment, simplifying the methodological framework, and integrating with other methods. Furthermore, it delves into improvements and optimizations of the methodological framework alongside their distinct characteristics. Drawing on insights from current analyses and the evolutionary path of the LCA methodological framework, this study outlines future research directions for LCA. It aims to serve as a reference for scholars in this field, thereby fostering further methodological enhancements and broadening the scope of LCA applications.